South River High School's robotics team recently got a big boost from Righttime Medical Care, which donated $5,000 to the school's robotics program.

Each year, the team builds a robot to compete against robots from schools from all over Maryland, the United States and even around the world.

The South River team, known as the "PowerHawks," is part of First Robotics, a high school competition for students focusing in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The competition was started by Segway inventor Dean Kamen as a way to give kids a sports-like competition.

The challenge events are similar to sporting events. Some schools even bring out their mascots and cheerleaders.

The challenge happens like this: right after the new year (this year on Jan. 7, 2012), the robotics teams from participating schools get "the challenge." It is a secret right until the big reveal; that way no school gets a head start in the building process. The kids then build the robots to do the specified tasks and meet in arenas to compete.

A few years ago students were asked to build a robot that could move a soccer ball down the field and defend it from other robots who were playing defense. Last year's challenge was to have the robots climb poles and retrieve different shaped pieces of plastic—think hula hoops shaped as circles, squares and triangles—mounted to poles.

Once the students receive the challenge from FIRST, they have about six weeks to build the robot from scratch. That is everything. They have to have a general design for the overall device, an engine, an electrical system, a drive system, everything top to bottom.

The students have to work just like engineers in the real world. They come up with new ideas, collaborate with colleagues, build, rebuild and refine the robot.

At the end of the time, the students go to a competition where they put their robot to the test against other robots built by other schools.

Some of the parts are provided, but much of the robot is constructed from things the students assemble themselves. There are many trips to the closet of parts, some parent's workshop, to Home Depot or the electrcal supply store.

It ain't cheap.

That is where the help from business donors comes in. And a generous contribution like the $5,000 from Righttime Medical Care will really help.

“We are committed to supporting this wonderful group of students who are our future leaders in the areas of science, technology and engineering,” said Righttime’s CEO and Chief Pediatrician Dr. Robert G. Graw, Jr., in an email to Patch.

The Powerhawks team and robotics program is also a great tool for teaching kids problem-solving, communication skills, self-confidence and leadership, the email said.

Righttime Medical Care has eight centers in Maryland:

• Annapolis
• Arundel Mills
• Columbia
• Crofton
• Gaithersburg
• Gambrills
• Pasadena
• Rockville
• Olney (opening in December)

For more information about Righttime call 888-808-6483.